Mechanical toy



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H. W. HARRISON & LE ROI B. WADLEIGH.

'MEGHANICAL TOI.

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M ..M a N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. HARRISON AND LE ROI B. WADLEIGH, CLINTON, IOWA.

M EC HAN [CAL TOY.

SPECIFICAIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,479, dated July 30, 1895.

Application filed Mardi 7. 1895. Serial No. 540,322. (No modal.)

Ta aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY-W. HARRISON and LE ROI B. WADLEIGH, citizens of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Clinton, State of Iowa,have invented certain neW and useful Improvements in Mechanical Toys; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description-of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a mechanical toy embodying our invention, taken on the line m 51;, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal transverse section of the same, taken on the line y y, Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4:, and 5 represent, respectivcly, the several detached sections of the toy, the body and two sections composing the head. Fig. 6 is a reduced view,showing the manner cf attaching the cord on which the figure is strung, or the operating-cord, to the rod.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Our. invention relates to the construction of that class of mechanical figure toys which are composed of a series of flexible sections or joints to which automatic movement is to be imparted to simulate'the natural movements of the figure, and for purposes of illustration only We have chosen a fish, without any intention et limiting the-invention to said figure, asit will be apparent that the principle, as Well as the special features of construction, may, without further invention, be applied to many other forms of like character.

To this end the main feature of our invention embraces the combination of a plurality cf levers pivotally connected in series, said pivots being in substantially a right lino when the levers are extended, of a plurality of tierods which cross the intermediate levers and are pivotally connected with the alternate levers of the series, one of said tierods being anchored or connected With a fixed point, whereby the series of levers are cansed to vibrate alternately to opposite sides of a median lino.

Asecond feature of our invention embraces the combination, with a plurality of levers pivwhich cross the levers and are pivotally connected With the alternate levers, one of said tie-rods being anchored, and a sheath haVing a rigid section for the support and attachment et the mechanical movement, and a flexible portion which incases and is vibrated by the mechanical movement, whereby the natural movements of a figure toy may be simulated.

A third feature of our invention embraces the combination in a figure-sheath of longitudinally-separable rigid sections adapted to support and anchor the operative mechanism, and a transversely-separable flexible section adapted to inclose the mechanism and secure together the longitudinally-separable sections of the case, Whereby the insertion, rernoval, and repair of the movement are facilitated.

There are other minor features of invention, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

We will novv proceed to describe our invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains mayapply the same. In the drawings the sheath or toy figure (in the present instance a fish) is composed of several separable sections A A B, one et which A should be sufficiently rigid to afford support for the rnechanical movement which is to actuate the figure, and another B should be of a flexible character, so as to be swayed or vibrated by said mechanical movemenr.

By preference the longitudinally-separable sections A A (the head and part of the body of the fish)are both rigid and provided With interlockingjoints a (1, which may be located at the ventral and dorsal fins, and said parts may be formed of hard rubber, papier-mach, or stamped up from light sheet metal,if preferred.

The transversely-separable or flexible section B (3. portion of the body and the tail) is composed of a series of taper-rings or equivalent loose transverse sections b, articulated, as at b, terminating at one end in a ring or collar B, adapted to encircle and secur'ely hold the longitudinally separable sections A A, and at the other in a tail, and said part may be of hard rubber, papier-mach, or sheet metal, but is prefcrably of soft rubber, paper, leather, or equivalent pliable material better adapted to sustain the wear of frequent vibration.

IOO

Within and concealed by the figure or sheath is the mechanical movement, the principal featnres of which are a series of levers 1 2 3two or more in nnmber, according to the extent of movement reqnired and the length of the figurethe first of which levers is pivoted, as at 1, on a fixed bracket or support 0 secured to the rigid section A, and the second lever pivoted on the first, as at 2 the third on the second, as at 3 and so on, according to the -nnmber of levers which are to be linked in succession, the said series of pivotal connections 1*, 2, &c., being in substantially a right line when the series of levers are extended. The second lever 2 is tied to the bracket 0 or other fixed point off of the pivot or fulcrum 1 of lever l by a tic-rod 4, and the third lever 3 is similarly tied to the first lever 1 by a tic-rod 5. The rods 4: and 5, which cross the levers 1 and 2, are pivotally connected with the bracket and with alternate levers, the tie-rods being s0 proportioned and arranged with relation to such levers (sec Fig. 2) that each lever after the first has a fioating fulcrum 4: 5, which is in line transversely of the figure (see dotted line ,2 .2, Fig. 2) with the pivotal connection of the respective lever only when the several levers are extended in a right line.

It will be noted that the tieaods 4 and 5 cross the levers 1 and 2, and conseqnently the movement of the first lever is magnified in the second and that of the second in the third, and the movement as a whole is alternately to opposite sides of the median line,thus acquiring a curling or more natural movement in a fish or like figure than can be obtained. by the single or simple lever or link movement.

Motion may be imparted to the first lever in any suitable manner; but we prefer to accomplish it by means of a pitman 6, eccentrically connected With a grooved pulley 7,

suitably journaled on the longitudinally-separable section A, around which pnlley passes a cord 8, movable through guides 9, the mouth or other natural opening of the figure affording entrance and exit for the cord and the opposite ends of the cord being secured to the distant points of a snitable rod, sufficient slack being allowed in the cord for the free movement or traverse of the grooved pnlley 7.

The construction being substantially of the character hereinbefore specified, the parts of the figure are assembled as follows: The cord 8 is first passed through the guides 9 and aronnd the pnlley 7, journaled on longitudinal section A, its free ends beingconducted from a natural opening in the figure (mouth of the fish) and secnred t0 a rod at distant points thereon, with sufficient slack between to allow for the play of the figure and the free rotation of pnlley 7. The connterpart longitudinal section A is then slid in position on the section A, the parts being held together by the interlocking parts a a, after which the sleeve or flexible sheath-section B and as each succeeding lever (no matter how,

many there may be) is tied at a point off its pivot, or, in other words, has a floating fulcrum, each of said subsequent levers will not only move With, but also independently of, the preceding lever first to one side and then to the other side of the median line, thus magnifying the movement and causing a curling movement to the flexible sheath B, (sec dotted limes, Fig. 2,) so that in case of a fish or like figure an exceedingly natnral movement of the flexible bodyis obtained.

IIaving chus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. In a mechanical toy, the combination With a plnrality of levers pivotally connected in series, said pivots being in snbstantially a right line when the levers are extended, of a plu- 'rality of tie-rods which cross the intermediate levers and are pivotally connected With alternate levers of the series, one of said tierods being anchored; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of a plurality of levers pivotally connected in series, said pivots being in line when the levers are extended, a

plnrality of tie-rods which cross the levers, and one of which is pivotally connected with alternate levers, a case which incloses the tie-rods and levers, the first of said levers and first of said tie-rods being pivotally anchored to said case, and means for vibrating the first of said levers; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a mechanical toy, the combination with a figure sheath having a rigid and a flexible section, of a plurality of levers pivotally connected in series, the first lever of said series pivoted on the rigid section of the sheath, and the said series of levers extending into the flexible portion of said sheath, and a plurality of tie-rods which cross the intermediate levers and are pivotall y connected with alternare levers of the series and With the rigid section of the sheath; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a mechanical toy, the combination with a figure sheath having a rigid and a flexible section, of a plurality of levers pivotally connected in series, the first of said levers pivoted on the rigid section of the sheath, a plurality of tie-rods which cross the levers and are pivotally connected With alternate levers of the series and With the rigid section of the sheath, a pulley jonrnaled on the rigid section of the sheath, and a pitman eccentrically ICO eonnecte With the pulley and with the first lever of the sefies; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. A sheach for mechanical toys, said sheath 5 composed of longitudinafly separable rigid sections which afiord support for the mechanical movement, and et. flexible transversel5 'separable section adapted to inclose the mechanical movement and provided with acol- 10 131 or ring which encircleS the longtudinally separable sections; subs tahtially as and for the purposes specfied.

'In testimony whereof we af fix onr signatares, in presence of two Witnesses, this 1st day of March, 1895.

- HENRY W. HARRISON.

LE ROI B. WADLEIGH.

Witnesses: v

0. H. DENICK, FRED EMMINGS. 

